Demand for SME loans to grow at slower pace in quarters ahead: MAS

DEMAND for loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is expected to grow at a slower pace than in recent quarters, due to more "challenging economic conditions" in the short term, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said on Thursday (view infographic).

This comes as Singapore is exploring the use of crowdfunding for SMEs. In October, The Business Times reported that the Singapore Exchange is exploring the feasibility of an equity crowdfunding platform for early-stage companies. It has formed a team focused on SMEs.

"In Singapore, the concept of crowdfunding is still nascent," the central bank said. "MAS is exploring the possibility of developing an appropriate regulatory framework for these new business models."